Budget Backpacker Accomodation: Where I stayed in Langkawi, Malaysia

This is the airconditioned dorm I stayed in Langkawi, Malaysia. Rate was 15MYR. The aircon is on from 10pm til check out time (lunch). There are 5 bunks in the mixed dorm, and 6 common toilets.

There are also local restaurants nearby.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Travelling Philippines? Follow CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation for easier searches

This is the airconditioned dorm I stayed in Langkawi, Malaysia. Rate was 15MYR. The aircon is on from 10pm til check out time (lunch). There are 5 bunks in the mixed dorm, and 6 common toilets.

There are also local restaurants nearby.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Travelling Philippines? Follow CheapBedsPH on Instagram for geotagged backpacker accomodation for easier searches

Read More »

Day 17-21 (May 11-15, 2014) of the #limbonisASIA trip: Langkawi

Given what I've read about Langkawi, being a geopark, and with 99 islands, and it's proximity to the beautiful beaches of Southern Thailand, I gave in to the thought of visiting the Island.

Upon arrival, I was surprised at the high rise establishments i've seen when approaching the pier. I was expecting a little laid back island of Malaysia.

Then again, it seemed the island is but a holiday island. Not the type where you meet a lot of locals, and be able to interact with them, hear stories about the island, their living, etc.

Most of the locals you'd find in the island are more of Malaysians working in the island, and not those who are really born there.

The lush green forests and hills would be a feast. You'd see loose monkeys on the way up to the 7 wells.  You may also encounter some monitor lizards crossing the highway (and sadly we found one dead near the police training facility when we drove home to the guesthouse).

As for the beaches, don't expect to have that crystal clear waters as the sand (while powdery and white) is actually soil, and not that powdered corals you see in the other great beaches.

The cenang beach is also an area for a lot of watersports, so if you have enough funds for this, this might be the place for you.

If you're a drinker and smoker, this is also the place for you. Dunhill cigarettes, which you'd normally get at 12.90RM elsewhere in malaysia, would only be 7.10RM here. There are even cheap cigarettes for as low as 1.20RM. And, as for beer, you can spot SKOT from 2.0RM per 333ML Can.

For food, there's plenty to select from in Cenang beach, except that these are normal price restaurants. There's only a few Malaysian local restaurantts. If you're driving elsewhere in the island though, there shall be a lot.

Somehow i still enjoyed my stay in Langkawi. I wouldn't last 5days if not. i would say, indeed, it's that place where you'd just want to escape from something and just rest, walk around, walk, sleep. Not that where you'd have so much to be doing and seeing.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Given what I've read about Langkawi, being a geopark, and with 99 islands, and it's proximity to the beautiful beaches of Southern Thailand, I gave in to the thought of visiting the Island.

Upon arrival, I was surprised at the high rise establishments i've seen when approaching the pier. I was expecting a little laid back island of Malaysia.

Then again, it seemed the island is but a holiday island. Not the type where you meet a lot of locals, and be able to interact with them, hear stories about the island, their living, etc.

Most of the locals you'd find in the island are more of Malaysians working in the island, and not those who are really born there.

The lush green forests and hills would be a feast. You'd see loose monkeys on the way up to the 7 wells.  You may also encounter some monitor lizards crossing the highway (and sadly we found one dead near the police training facility when we drove home to the guesthouse).

As for the beaches, don't expect to have that crystal clear waters as the sand (while powdery and white) is actually soil, and not that powdered corals you see in the other great beaches.

The cenang beach is also an area for a lot of watersports, so if you have enough funds for this, this might be the place for you.

If you're a drinker and smoker, this is also the place for you. Dunhill cigarettes, which you'd normally get at 12.90RM elsewhere in malaysia, would only be 7.10RM here. There are even cheap cigarettes for as low as 1.20RM. And, as for beer, you can spot SKOT from 2.0RM per 333ML Can.

For food, there's plenty to select from in Cenang beach, except that these are normal price restaurants. There's only a few Malaysian local restaurantts. If you're driving elsewhere in the island though, there shall be a lot.

Somehow i still enjoyed my stay in Langkawi. I wouldn't last 5days if not. i would say, indeed, it's that place where you'd just want to escape from something and just rest, walk around, walk, sleep. Not that where you'd have so much to be doing and seeing.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Read More »

Don't Book: DIY from Krabi/Trang to Langkawi, Malaysia or vice versa

Some destinations are flocked by tourists, not just because of the natural appeal of the destination, but sometimes the comfort and convenience offered by the destination. For backpackers, we don't care how long nor how hard it may take, so long as it saves some money, but for tourists, they will be willing to spend so much, just to save them the time and energy. They have limited time, and they can't waste much.

Well, that's a lot to introduce how to go from Krabi to Langkawi, right?

Here's what you do. In Krabi, from town, take the Song Teo (can't even remember how that spelt as there's so much vowel on a 2 syllable word) to the terminal. I found them near the mangrove bay, near River view Hotel, colored Red. Fare to Terminal is 25Baht.

From Terminal, there's only one operator for the Krabi to Satun Trip. Fare is 243Baht.

(Not sure if its common, but the bus is packed when i hopped; It seemed like a double decker but the lower deck is just for baggage and toilet; And there was no space for me but next to the toilet door and I haven't eaten anything that day, just how horrible). 

The bus will pass by and do 1 meal stop in Trang. It will take around 2hours and 20 mins to reach Trang. 

Upon reaching Trang, look for the buddhist temple. Near the temple is a 7-11 where there is a song teo goingg to Tammalang pier. Fare is 30Baht. Travel time is about 20 mins, though song teo will kind of fill up the seats before leaving.

Upon reaching the Pier, queue up for the Sattun-Langkawi pier and hand over passport. Fare is 300Baht or 30MYR plus 1MYR embarcation fee. 

After which, queue up in the immigration to stamp out and board the ferry. Ferry normally leaves around 20-30 minutes behind schedule.

In case you're doing the other way around, right at the Satun Pier, there will be buses waiting for passengers to Trang/Krabi and I even Bangkok.

You may want to consider a night in Satun. Such a quiet town, will all sorts of cafes, restaurants, though none seems to speak english, but yeah, it's just too peaceful. You may see OMUDSUK Hotel (see separate post) for somewhere cheap to stay.




This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Some destinations are flocked by tourists, not just because of the natural appeal of the destination, but sometimes the comfort and convenience offered by the destination. For backpackers, we don't care how long nor how hard it may take, so long as it saves some money, but for tourists, they will be willing to spend so much, just to save them the time and energy. They have limited time, and they can't waste much.

Well, that's a lot to introduce how to go from Krabi to Langkawi, right?

Here's what you do. In Krabi, from town, take the Song Teo (can't even remember how that spelt as there's so much vowel on a 2 syllable word) to the terminal. I found them near the mangrove bay, near River view Hotel, colored Red. Fare to Terminal is 25Baht.

From Terminal, there's only one operator for the Krabi to Satun Trip. Fare is 243Baht.

(Not sure if its common, but the bus is packed when i hopped; It seemed like a double decker but the lower deck is just for baggage and toilet; And there was no space for me but next to the toilet door and I haven't eaten anything that day, just how horrible). 

The bus will pass by and do 1 meal stop in Trang. It will take around 2hours and 20 mins to reach Trang. 

Upon reaching Trang, look for the buddhist temple. Near the temple is a 7-11 where there is a song teo goingg to Tammalang pier. Fare is 30Baht. Travel time is about 20 mins, though song teo will kind of fill up the seats before leaving.

Upon reaching the Pier, queue up for the Sattun-Langkawi pier and hand over passport. Fare is 300Baht or 30MYR plus 1MYR embarcation fee. 

After which, queue up in the immigration to stamp out and board the ferry. Ferry normally leaves around 20-30 minutes behind schedule.

In case you're doing the other way around, right at the Satun Pier, there will be buses waiting for passengers to Trang/Krabi and I even Bangkok.

You may want to consider a night in Satun. Such a quiet town, will all sorts of cafes, restaurants, though none seems to speak english, but yeah, it's just too peaceful. You may see OMUDSUK Hotel (see separate post) for somewhere cheap to stay.




This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Read More »

Budget Backpacker Accomodation: Where I stayed in Satun, Thailamd

From Krabi, I planned to move to Langkawi. The last trip is 5pm Malaysia time (4pm Thailand) from Satun, and as i read, bus ride from krabi to satun shall take only 4.5hours. Counting at that, I ddn't prepare for an emergency accomodation, in case i'll have to spend a night.

Apprently, it's not 4.5hours. It took us about 5.5hours, so the ferry would have already left at our arrival.

There was no choice then but to look for one on google. Luckily, the one I found wasn't so bad. At 250/night, i got a cofy, ultra smooth bed, very clean linens, a traditional bathroom, and a tv.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

From Krabi, I planned to move to Langkawi. The last trip is 5pm Malaysia time (4pm Thailand) from Satun, and as i read, bus ride from krabi to satun shall take only 4.5hours. Counting at that, I ddn't prepare for an emergency accomodation, in case i'll have to spend a night.

Apprently, it's not 4.5hours. It took us about 5.5hours, so the ferry would have already left at our arrival.

There was no choice then but to look for one on google. Luckily, the one I found wasn't so bad. At 250/night, i got a cofy, ultra smooth bed, very clean linens, a traditional bathroom, and a tv.

This post is part of the #limbonisASIA trip. See here for detailed expenses and more info

Read More »